Council Decision 2013/668/CFSP of 18 November 2013 in support of World Health Organisation activities in the area of biosafety and biosecurity in the framework of the European Union Strategy against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

1 For the purpose of giving immediate and practical application to the relevant elements of the EU Strategy, the Union shall contribute to the implementation of decisions made by the States Parties at the Seventh Review Conference of BTWC with the following objectives: ensuring the safety and security of microbial or other biological agents or toxins in laboratories and other facilities, including during transportation, as appropriate, in order to prevent unauthorised access to such agents and toxins and their unauthorised removal, promoting biorisk reduction practices and awareness, including biosafety, biosecurity, bioethics and preparedness against intentional misuse of biological agents and toxins, through international cooperation in this area.

2 The projects corresponding to measures of the EU Strategy, are those that aim at the: promotion of laboratory biorisk management through national and regional outreach, development of national laboratory biorisk management strategies to counter biological risks (a demonstration model for countries). A detailed description of those projects is set out in the Annex.

1 The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (‘the HR’) shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decision.

2 The technical implementation of the activities referred to in Article 1 shall be entrusted to the WHO. It shall perform its task under the responsibility of the HR. For this purpose, the HR shall enter into the necessary arrangements with the WHO.

1 The financial reference amount for the implementation of the projects referred to in Article 1(2) shall be EUR 1727000.

2 The expenditure financed by the amount set out in paragraph 1 shall be managed in accordance with the procedures and rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.

3 The Commission shall supervise the proper management of the expenditure referred to in paragraph 1. For that purpose, it shall conclude a financing agreement with the WHO. The financing agreement shall stipulate that the WHO is to ensure the visibility of the Union’s contribution, commensurate to its size.

4 The Commission shall endeavour to conclude the financing agreement referred to in paragraph 3 as soon as possible after the entry into force of this Decision. It shall inform the Council of any difficulties in that process and of the date of conclusion of the financing agreement.

The HR shall report to the Council on the implementation of this Decision on the basis of regular reports prepared by the WHO. Those reports shall form the basis for the evaluation carried out by the Council. The Commission shall provide information on the financial aspects of the projects referred to in Article 1(2).

1 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

2 This Decision shall expire 24 months after the date of the conclusion of the financing agreement referred to in Article 3(3). However, it shall expire 6 months after its adoption if the financing agreement has not been concluded by that time.